Prakash Raj gets Rs.4 mn for brief appearance in Kannada film

Mumbai, Sep 7 (IANS) Versatile actor Prakash Raj returns to Kannada films after a long gap with 'Dhool' for which he has reportedly been paid Rs.40 lakh. He is also set to direct his first movie in the same language.

A remake of Tamil film 'Thiruvilaiyaadal Aarambham', which had Dhanush and Shriya Saran in lead roles, 'Dhool' stars Yogi and Aindrita Ray in lead roles. Prakash Raj will be seen as Aindrita's rich brother in it.

The actor will also feature in Crazy Star Ravichandran's 'Manjina Hani' in a negative role. He has already finished seven days shooting for the film and is busy with another schedule that started Sep 5.

'When I started writing the role for the new version of 'Manjina Hani', I only had Prakash Raj in my mind. I could not think of any other actor to do that role,' said Ravichandran who had to wait for Prakash Raj for nearly a month before starting the second schedule of the film.

Prakash Raj, who is producing the Kannada remake of his much acclaimed Tamil movie 'Abhiyum Naanum', will wield the megaphone for the first time for it. The Tamil version was produced by Prakash Raj and Radha Mohan had directed it.

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Sharmila Mandre prefers to design her clothes herself

After lying low for a while, Kannada actress Sharmila Mandre has signed director Maadesh's big budget 'Karichitrathe' and Ananta Raju's 'Swayamvara'. She says there wasn't any dearth of offers as she was waiting for meaty roles.

Sharmila's last film 'Venkata In Sankata' was a moderate hit and, according to a source, the actress didn't get too many offers after that.

'It is not that offers were not coming to me. But I have been a little circumspect in choosing films and I really want to take up good roles. I know that people will ask me how I did accept a role in a film like Shivamani, but sometimes all artists make mistakes. But now I have decided to take up films of good production values and a good director,' said Sharmila.

The actrses, who plays a fashion designer in 'Swayamvara', says in real life also she is very fond of clothes.

'Director Anantha Raju sir wanted me to have a separate costume designer for this film ('Swayamvara'). But I told him that I would chose my cloths myself. Normally, I design my clothes for all modelling assignments.

'Even Ramesh Arvind sir gave me freedom to chose my clothes. I am fond of clothes and I can chose the best attires to suit the mood of the situations of the shoot,' said Sharmila.

Talking about the film's storyline, she said: 'Swayamvara' is a light romantic movie with a touch of comedy in the beginning. But it will develop into a film with strong emotional overtones.'

In 'Karichirathe' she will be seen as a deglamourised village girl. 'It is essentially an action entertainer. I think I will be made to look glamorous only in the song sequences of the film.'